THOMAS HALE was born in England and died probably at Norwalk, Conn. prior to 19 February 1678/9 when the inventory of his estate was taken. He married first, at Roxbury, Mass., Feb. 1639/40, JANE LORD, [RChR 79-80]. She died probably at Norwalk, Conn., before 1659. Thomas married second, at Charlestown, Mass., 14 Dec. 1659, MARY NASH [ChVR 1:21], , who died prob­ably between 1696 and 1699, daughter of William and Mary ( ) Nash.

Thomas Hale came to America about 1633. He first appears at Roxbury, Mass., where he was among the last of those admitted to Roxbury church in 1633 was "Thomas Hale a single man, he lived but a short time with us but he removed to Hartford on Conecticott where God blessed him with a good measure of increase of grace, he afterwards returned & married Jane Lord one of our members about the 12th month 1639 & the next spring returned to Conecticot" [RChR 79-80]. The Rev. John Eliot, in his record of Roxbury church members, wrote: "Thomas Hale a single man, he lived but a short time w' us but he removed to Hartford on Conecticott where God blessed him wh a good measure of increase of grace, he afterwards returned & maryed Jane Lord one of or members aboute the 12th month 1639 & the next spring returned to Conecti­cot." Eliot also lists "Jane Lorde a maide servant. she came over in the yeare [blank] she lived a Godly life among us; & in the yeare 1640 she was married to Thomas Hale, one of this church, who removed to Hartford on Conecticott, where they lived well approved of the saints."

He was made a freeman of Massachusetts Bay, 14 May 1634,[MBCR 1:368]. In 1635 he was an original proprietor of Hartford, CT, where he was living with his brother Samuel when the Pequot War broke out in 1637. The brothers both served and received lots in Soldier's Field in Hartford. They moved to Norwalk, probably with the first settlers in 1651. In the Norwalk list of 1655, the estate of Thomas was rated at £118, that of Samuel at £250.

At Hartford the following "Lands of Thomas Healles" were entered in 1640; two acres on which "his dwelling house now Standeth"; two acres in the west field (sold to Zachariah Field by 1651); ten acres, two roods in the cow pasture (sold to Zachariah Field by 1651, and by him to Richard Lord); one acre in the north meadow (sold to John Pratt); two acres, of which twelve perches were bought from John Pratt and the rest from Nicholas Clark, on the Connecticut River; four acres of swamp on the east side of the Connecticut River, bounded on the River, which he bought from Samuel Hale and sold by 1640 to Paul Peck; and four more acres on the east side of the River, two of which he sold to William Pantry. By 1640 Zachariah Field had bought several lots in Soldier's Field, including those of "Thomas Healles" and "Samiwell Halles." As an original proprietor of common lands, Thomas Hale drew thirty acres, 12 June 1666, located on the east side of the River, and bounded on Samuel Hale's land; this acreage he sold, 18 May 1677, to William Pitkin. In Feb. 1671-2, Samuel Olcott had Thomas Hale's £10 right in the undivided lands, presumably by pur­chase.

"Thomas Hale of Charles Towne sold unto my Brother Samuell Hale of Norwalk, one Homelott in Norwalk and adjoining House of Richard Olmsted," etc. Entered 29 May 1673.

Thomas removed to Charlestown, Mass., the home of his second wife, and was living there in 1666 when Winthrop mentioned him as brother of Paul Peck's wife. His son was baptized in Charlestown the previous year, as son "of or sister Mary Hale. Thomas Hale was admitted to Charlestown church on 14 August 1670 "by a letter of dismission from the church of Christ in Norwalk" [NEHGR 23:435]. The Mary Hale who was admitted to the church 20 Nov. 1687 was probably his wife, returned from Norwalk, though possibly his daughter. In Norwalk, in 1674, Thomas Hale "that was formerly an in­habitant accepted on his returning." Presumably he died at Norwalk; the inventory of his estate, taken 19 Feb. 1678/9, included estate at Charles­town and Norwalk.

It appears that Thomas Hale lived in Charlestown until his mother-in­ law died. The will of Mary Nash, dated 20 Apr. 1674, proved 3 July 1674, named her son Peter, daughter Mary wife of Thomas Hale, and grand­children John and Mary Hale. He received a colonial grant of fifty acres, 12 Oct. 1671, "for his seruice in the Pequott warr," which his heirs sold to Thomas Dickinson.' On 12 May 1681, "The administrators of Thomas Hale's estate appoynted by the Court moved this Court for liberty to make sale of a parcel of land be­longed to sayd Hale, to pay his debts, &c. They allso produced a writing from sayd Hales eldest sonn to manifest his desire and consent to their so doeing." The Court consented, but stipulated that the widow's dower should not be prejudiced).

The inventory of the estate of Thomas Hale was taken on 19 February 1678[/9] and totalled £48 8s. 10d., including "one homelot" valued at £31; there was also "an estate belonging to the said Thomas Hale's deceased in the custody of the relict at Charelstowne" consisting of moveables [Fairfield PR 3:88].

ORIGIN: Unknown.He was brother of Samuel Hale of Wethersfield and of Martha (Hale) Peck, wife of Paul Peck of Hartford [Hale, House 256]. S. Allyn Peck has found baptisms of Thomas, Samuel and Martha, children of John and Martha Hale, at Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, at a likely date, and suggests that these may be the immigrants to Connecticut [TAG 38:237-39].

Parish Register Watton at Stone, co. Hertford, England"1610. June 24 Thomas Hale the sonne of Jhon and Martha his wyffe baptized.""1615. Julie 1 Sameull Hale the sonne of John and Martha his wife baptized.""1618. December 16 Martha Halle dauftur of John & martha Bap."[The author of the article rightly points out that there is no direct proof these baptisms are the same three siblings that ended up in Connecticut, but circumstantial evidence (partially described on the Talk page) suggests they are.]